NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Apr 25, 2012) - Hearst Corporation's Innovation group and the University of Missouri's Reynolds Journalism Institute today announced the winners of their annual student competition, which is aimed at building creative solutions to real-world media challenges.

The winner is Project Scope, a widget that gives local advertisers a self-service platform to more effectively place their messages alongside high-demand and personalized news content. It was created by Alex Blum, Russell Chapin, Derrick Ho, Francesco Marconi, Scott Wexler, Jamar Williams and Zach Winkler.

With mentoring by Hearst Innovation and employees across Hearst's diverse businesses, the competition challenged journalism, business and computer science students at the University of Missouri to collaborate on the development of new approaches to television and newspaper advertising.

Students were asked to reimagine how Hearst Television's local stations could showcase advertising success or to explore new ways for Hearst Newspapers to create value for local advertisers.

"At Hearst we're constantly challenging ourselves to focus on the future," said Beth Polish, director of Hearst Innovation. "Our partnership with RJI is a very fulfilling way to nurture and support our own pioneering culture, while encouraging the same spirit in the next generation of media leaders. We congratulate all the talented students who took part in this year's competition, especially the winners, on their impressive work and dedication to shaping the future of media."

"For three years, with our partners at Hearst, we have been able to present our media, business and technology students with real-world challenges that provide premier learning opportunities while creating innovations that Hearst has been putting to use in its businesses," said Mike McKean, RJI Futures Lab director. "Our students continue to rise to the challenge and Hearst, once again, has offered invaluable mentorship."

During the 2010-11 academic year, Hearst Innovation and RJI partnered with Adobe Systems Inc., Google and Sprint for a student competition aimed at creating new media-related mobile apps using Google's open-source Android mobile platform. Last year's runner up, a user-generated-content app, has been integrated into a new Hearst Television mobile app. To learn more about the competition and the projects visit: http://www.rjionline.org/topics/student-competitions.

About Donald W. Reynolds Journalism InstituteThe Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (rjionline.org) engages media professionals, scholars and citizens in programs aimed at improving the practice and understanding of journalism. Part of the Missouri School of Journalism, RJI collaborates with news and technology companies, professional associations, foundations and individuals to generate and test innovative models and technologies for journalism and advertising. A team of Donald W. Reynolds Fellows spend an academic year at RJI, working with Missouri faculty and students and RJI staff to develop new ways to gather, process and deliver news, information and advertising. RJI was launched in 2004 with an initial $31 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. In 2009, the Foundation awarded the Institute an additional $15 million for operating support.

About Hearst InnovationOfficially launched in September 2010, Hearst Innovation, a division of Hearst Corporation, works to drive innovative and entrepreneurial thinking, increase collaboration, and spur new growth opportunities throughout the company's diverse business units.

About Hearst CorporationHearst Corporation (www.hearst.com) is one of the nation's largest diversified media and information companies. Its major interests include ownership of 15 daily and 37 weekly newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union; hundreds of magazines around the world, including Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, ELLE and O, The Oprah Magazine; 29 television stations, which reach a combined 18 percent of U.S. viewers; ownership in leading cable networks, including Lifetime, A&E, History and ESPN; significant holdings in the automotive, electronic, medical/pharmaceutical and financial information industries; Internet and marketing services businesses; television production; newspaper features distribution; and real estate. Follow us on Twitter @HearstCorp.